Daylight Saving Time

Starting in 2007, most of the United States and Canada observe DST from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. The change was part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and Congress retains the right to go back to the previous dates once an energy consumption study is done.

On the second Sunday in March, clocks are set ahead one hour at 2:00 a.m. local standard time, which becomes 3:00 a.m. local daylight time. On the first Sunday in November, clocks are set back one hour at 2:00 a.m. local daylight time, which becomes 1:00 a.m. local standard time.

From 1987 through 2006, daylight time began in the United States on the first Sunday in April and
ended on the last Sunday in October.

Not all places in the U.S. observe daylight time. In particular, Arizona,
and Hawaii do not use it.

Many other countries observe some form of "summer time", but they do not
necessarily change their clocks on the same dates as the U.S.

Daylight time and time zones in the U.S. are defined in the U.S. Code, Title
15, Chapter 6, Subchapter IX

History of Daylight Time in the U.S.
Although standard time in time zones was instituted in the U.S. and Canada
by the railroads in 1883, it was not established in U.S. law until the Act
of March 19, 1918, sometimes called the Standard Time Act. The act also
established daylight saving time, a contentious idea then. Daylight saving
time was repealed in 1919, but standard time in time zones remained in law.
Daylight time became a local matter. It was re-established nationally early
in World War II, and was continuously observed from 9 February 1942 to 20
September 1945. After the war its use varied among states and localities.
The Uniform Time Act of 1966 provided standardization in the dates of beginning
and end of daylight time in the U.S. but allowed for local exemptions from
its observance. The act provided that daylight time begin on the last Sunday
in April and end on the last Sunday in October, with the changeover to occur
at 2 a.m. local time. During the "energy crisis" years, Congress enacted
earlier starting dates for daylight time. In 1974, daylight time began on
6 January and in 1975 it began on 23 February. After those two years the
starting date reverted back to the last Sunday in April. In 1986, a law
was passed permanently shifting the starting date of daylight time to the
first Sunday in April, beginning in 1987.